Film-fire extinguisher



E STROHBAC H. FILM FIRE EXTINGUISHER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 19M.

1,392,233. PatentedSept. 2 ,1921.

ASTATES UNITED STROHBACH, or vIENNA, Aus'rnrh.

FILM-FIRE nxriiveursnnn.

application file dAu'gust 1, 1914. serial- N0. s'54,60o.-

(GRANTED UNDER THE rnovrsrcns orrmnncr 01? MARCH 3,1921, 41 Sum. L, 1313.

T 0 all 10 7mm it may concern: Y

Be it'known that I, Enron STROHBACH, a subject of the Emperor of Austria, and a resident of Vienna, in the Empire ofAustria, whose 'post-ofiice' address is Vienna, XXILLeopoldau, have inventeda Film- Fire Extinguisher, of which the "following is a specification. M This invention relates to and has for its object to devise an improved means for preventing flames from spreading along celluloid films, strips,;filaments or the like which have caught fire. I

. Celluloid in the form of strips is used on a large scale for the manufacture of films. Numerous experiments have been made with the object of eliminating the risks arising from such films when they catch fire. It has already been discovered that celluloid films, strips, filaments or the like, which have caught fire may be extinguished with comparative case, if suitable means are provided for removing as rapidly as possible the resulting heat, so that the temperature sinks below the ignition point of celluloid. This may be done by employing metallic surfaces 6. g. in; the form of metal plates between which the film, the strip or the filament is allowed to travel.

This invention substantially consists in the combination of the aforedescribed heatremoving method with the starting of a chemical reaction which liberates from suitable substances (by supplying heat thereto) combustion-preventing gases. All organlc and inorganic salts, which on being heated give off carbonic acid, ammonia or aqueous which thereforegive off carbonic acid, ammonia or aqueous vapor, deprive the film of the oxygen which is necessary for combustion.

zA suitable device for carrying themethod into practice consists of a closed narrow channehuand vessels containing substances which liberate combustion-preventing gases. The sides of the vessels facing. the channel maybe closed by perforated plates permittingthe gases to escape into the .channel. By su'ch arrangement the gases generated in consequence of the heating ofthe said carriersemanate only into the channel and act ing exclusively in the same. y

. One embodimentof such :a device isshown, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings; 1 j a .In said drawings, Figure l is side view of the device, partly in cross-section and partly in elevation.

Specification of Letters Patenti i Sept. 1921. it

Pg. 2 is a perspective View of the device,

parts being broken away.

1 is a guiding frame forming a narrow guiding interstice for the strip of celluloid (film 2 or the like). This guiding frame is preferably fixed to the film drum, in such a manner, that the film enters the guiding frame immediately after leaving the drum. Vith the embodiment shown, the frame 1 carries boxes 3, the bottoms of the said boxes being formed by sieves 4 or the like between which the film passes. The boxes 3, which preferably in order to permit of renewal in case of emergency, are detachably fixed upon the guiding frame, serve as containers of a substance generating gases which prevent combustion.

By means of the sieves or other perforated bodies facing the film, heat is absorbed from the film if the film happens to burn and thereby the gas-generating substances are heated so that the generation of such combustion-preventing gases is set up. The said gases being permitted to escape only by the said narrow channel, the flameextinguishing action of these gases is efli'ective under all circumstances and thereby the fire suppressed.

than the lower one because the heat action is stronger upon the upper box than upon the lower box.

It is also preferable to provide such an arrangement as well upon the drum,wherefrom the film uncoils itselfas upon the drum serving for upwinding of the uncoiled film, whereby the spreading of the fire is prevented upon each drum. 1

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is z- 1. Anapparatus for use in preventing,

flames from spreading along celluloid films or the like,'comprising a substance adapted to liberate inert gases upon being heated by the combustion of a film to suppress combustion, and a good heat conductor atone side of said substance, sothat the apparatus may be located with the heat conductor between said substance and the film, said conductor being adapted to extract heat from said film and transmit it to said substance.

2. An apparatus for use in preventing flames from spreading along celluloid films or the like, comprising a substance adapted toliberate inert gas upon being heatedby the combustion of a film to suppress combustion, a perforated metal plate at one side'of said substance, sothat the apparatus may be located with the perforated plate between said substance and said film, said plate being adapted to extract heat from said film and transmit it to said substance,

and allow the liberated gases to pass through said perforations into the path of said film.

3. An apparatus for use in preventing flames from spreading along celluloid films or the like, comprising a guideway through which the film is adapted to pass, said ideway having boxes on either side thereo said boxes having perforated walls facing said guideway, and said boxes containing a substance adapted to liberate inert gases upon being heated by the combustion of said film, said gases being adapted to pass through said perforated walls into said passageway to suppress combustion of said film.

4. An apparatus for use in preventing flames from spreading along celluloid films or the like, comprising a guideway through which the film is adapted to pass, said guide- Witnesses:

HUGO REIB, AUGUST F UGGER;

Enron STROHBACH. 

